Roof ventilator



22, 1967 H1 KNUTSON ET AL 3,336,354

ROOF VENTILATOR Filed July 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M39 39 fi/en/o zs'22, 1967 H. KNUTSON' ET AL 3,336,854

ROOF VENTILATOR Filed July 26, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 2 (u n u J/i/efl 20129 fiarol'cz 70m 602 4 Haroia 6. 7( 22111519012 w WW6;

Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,336,854 ROOF VENTILATOR Harold Knutson, 10022S. Hoyne, Chicago, Ill.

and Harold G. Kuutson, P.O. 38301 60643, Box 1127, Jackson, Tenn.

Filed July 26, 1965, Ser. No. 474,875 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-42) cient outletpassage for discharging vapors. At all times the disposition of missionof birds their nests.

By this construction, thin webs of light sheet material may be used toform adequately braced units, and the component parts may be formed,partially assembled, with attachment holes located for quick andsecurely assembling and fastening the parts together with very simpletools, thus eliminating the necessity of expensive erection,

A large exhaust opening with a free outlet is thus provided with noobstruction except that regularly used as a closer. Single units may becombined in multiple either sidewise or endwise and applied tocontinuous roof openings. Although the inner flights, vanes ordeflectors are disposed to divert any rain or dirt from the centralexhaust opening to the sides where discharge openings may be provided.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is across-section of a ventilator unit in accordance with the presentinvention intermediate the ends, and showing deflector vanes in theiroverlapping locations, and a damper in a closed position; I

FIG. 2 is a somewhat similar cross section showing transverse partitionsand end flights for supporting the vanes, and the damper in openposition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a ventilator unit, showing the locationsand broken away assemblies of vanes therewith;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View showing the supporting flights at theinside of one end and the side post supports for a starter and amultiple unit; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG.

4 showing end and intermediate supports for the vanes. In a roofventilator unit it is important not only that there is a free dischargeopening for fumes and gases, but also that there is adequate protectionto prevent wind, fumes and vapor from swirling into or otherwiseentering the normal outlets of the units. An important manner ofaccomplishing this result is to form the units in relatively small,easily produced and fabricated sizes, with upright sides and ends; tohave inclined vanes or deflectors extending lengthwise and preferablyoverlying, to avoid direct open paths and to divert entering rain andvapors; and to interpose transverse partitions to strengthen the vanesand the units, and also to eliminate any direct downward side paths fromtop to bottom by interposing effective stops at the inner sides of theunit.

parts must offer noopenings for the adand no protected portions forlocating Referring now more particularly to the drawings, eachventilator unit preferably comprises a rectangular sheet metal shellwith upright sides 10 and ends 11 connected by screws or rivets to aflat sheet metal base 12.

Each base 12 has an outer marginal downwardly turned flange 13, and acentral opening 14 with upwardly turned flange 13, and a central opening14 with upwardly turned flange sides 15 to fit upon the curb of a roof,or other discharge opening to which it is applied. This opening 14usually extends from end to end of the unit, but extends only about onehalf of the distance to each side 11,

At the inner side of each end 11 are inclined flights in the transverseshape of angle bars to which sheet metal panels or webs are attachedextending the full length of the unit: two flights 16 extend angularlydownward from near the top of the center of each end, and acorrespondingly but angular web or panel 17 is secured thereto andextends centrally over the base opening 14 but :does not cover it; aflight 18 extends downwardly from each up per corner of the end to theouter end of the adjacent flight 16, and to it is secured a sheet ofscreen 19. The two screens 19 and the intermediate'panel 17 are usuallyclose to the top of the unit, and entirely fill it so that birds ordebris do not get into the ventilator but do not prevent the passage ofair or fumes; extending below each flight 16 at about the same angle andoverlapped by it is a flight 20, with a panel 21 secured thereto havingan upwardly and reversely flange upper edge 22 and a reverse downwardlyextending flange 23 at the lower end forming a liquid dripping surface;and a short dripping surface; and a short flight 24 attached to the end11 at an angle below the lowered end of each flight 20, with alongitudinal panel 25 at an angle below and underlapping the lower endof each panel 21, and extending above but at the outer edge of theadjacent side of opening 14. The upper edge of this panel 25 has areversely bent flange 26 to engage rain and the like, and a downwardlyextending flange 27 to provide a liquid dripping lip, extendingoutwardly from the opening 14 above its flange 15.

At spaced distances along the sides 10 and at the ends are supportingposts 28, the intermediate ones each secured at the upper portions tocross panels 29 lying between the screen 19 and a portion of the panel21 below the screen lower portion of each intermediate cross panel 30with its inner edge at right angles to the post 28 has a lower end atright angles to panel 25' and it is supplemented, braced and supportedby a triangular cross panel 31 which is also secured to the top side ofpanel 25, and continues transversely in the same plane as the panel 25.

For easily connecting these sides, ends, posts, flights and panels theyare correspondingly perforated; the flights and posts are usually anglebar sections, panel edges 32 are usually bent over at right angles withperforations therein, and fastening screws or bolts 33 are applied tothe corresponding perforations or openings.

On top of the screen 19 at each side of the unit is a strengthening anddeflector Z-bar 20a extending within the ventilator unit from one end 11to the other and connected thereto by inwardly turned flanges andfastening bolts 33. These bars 20a do not extend above the upper edgesof the sides 10 and ends 11, are preferably about midway of the upperand lower edges of the screens 19, and the lower edge of each bar isattached to the screen 19 and to the upper flanged edge of the crosspanels 29 at the proper intervals.

Thus the bars 20a act both as strengtheners for the screens 19 andpanels 29, but also as stops and deflectors for weather, wind, rain,smog and sleet, tending to arrest and prevent direct or angular currentsof any of the weather manifestations from entering, or having a freeunobstructed path into the ventilator.

To close the ventilator opening 14 in the base, a pair of vanes 34 aremounted on shafts 35 pivoted in corresponding openings in the flangesand the ends 11 on ball bearings '37, with a pivoted arm connection 36between to operate them together. The edges of the vanes 34 have hooks38 which engage over the opposite flanges 15 of the base openings 14 andopposite hooks 39 which engage each other, closing the opening.

For single complete units the supporting posts 28 may all be the same,and the shafts 35 may be supplied with a single operating crank 40 as inFIG. 3, but for multiple connection and operation, where the units maybe closely spaced over continuous roof openings in end to end, or sideto side positions, the ends of the shafts 35 of corresponding units maybe connected by flanges, bolts or sleeves in any commonly known manner.And the lower ends of the posts 28 may have an offset foot 41, as shownin 'FIG. 4, to clear a lower water discharge opening 42 and an inwardlyextending base hook 43 on one side 10 to provide an opening forreceiving a corresponding outwardly extending hook 44 at the base end ofan adjacent unit. And at its other end the two hooks 43 and 44 connectand draw the ventilator units closely together in side or end relations,and by connecting the shaft 35 of adjacent units they may be operatedtogether.

With this construction, a driving wind storm, or rain, cannot enter theventilator unit in an unobstructed manner; if it is straight down, rainfor example, is deflected at the center by top panel 17 having itsdownward sides overlying the lower panels 21 and 25 successivelydischarging water from the lower flanges outwardly beyond the uprightinner flange 15. If the path is at a lowering angle, wind, for example,and rain will first engage the Z-bar a at one side of the top panel 17;then being diverted and deflected will pass through the screen 19against the intermediate panel 21, engaging its flanged up edge 22upwardly and passing below its drip flange 27 downwardly, causing thelower divided path to engage the lower panel 25. The engagement of thispanel causes a further division of the inward path to engage the upperreverse flange 26 and over the down flange 27 beyond the inner sideflange 15.

Even though the vanes 34 are open there is no direct or unobstructedpath directly from the open top of the ventilator to the roof opening14, and no driving blast of air fumes, or rain can enter directly; onthe other hand, whenever the vanes 34 are opened a discharging orventilatin-g blast will pass upwardly through the opening 14, andattempting to expand and flow outwardly, will flow through the openingsat the edges of the panels 21 and 25, and thence through a screen 19. Ifthe ventilator is subjected to a blast from one side of the ventilatorit may enter around the panels 17, 21 and 25 on one side causing anyexhaust through the ventilator opening 14 to be more forcibly blown outaround the edges of the panels 16, 21, and 25 at the other side.

If the fluid blast is endwise of the ventilator openings and panels, itwill be modified or affected as above disclosed depending upon the exactdirection, and also by the partitions 29, and 31 which extend partiallyacross the unit at intervals for actually preventing or stopping theflow of air, fumes or liquids in that direction.

What we claim is:

1. In a roof ventilator, a rectangular hollow structure having sidewalls and ends, open at the top and a flat base at the bottom having acentral upwardly flanged opening to fit over a roof curb; a central roofpanel extending substantially parallel with the said bottom opening withthe opposite sides inclined downwardly from the center; but the saidroof panel being less in lateral extent than the opening, vadjacentpanels below each lower edge of the central roof panel, each panelinclined at about the same inclination as that of the central roof panelabove it; angle bar supporting flights for said roof panel and inclinedpanels on each side of the longitudinal center secured to the end wallsin approximately parallel relations with each other to support the saidcentral roof panel and the adjacent panels below it in separate andunderlapping positions, said adjacent panels having an upper edge flangeturned reversely and underlying the edge of the panel above, and a loweredge turned downwardly to form a drip flange, and the drip edge of thelowest flange overlying and extending outwardly beyond the adjacent edgeof the upwardly flanged opening to fit over the roof curb; and liquiddischarge means at the lower edge of each of said side walls.

2. In a roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1, a transversepartition extending from each upper inside side wall to the lower end ofthe central roof panel and downward therefrom, the lower edge restingupon and extending parallel with the next adjacent lower panel to thesaid side wall, and the upper edge of the partition extending from thelower edge of the said central roof panel to the outer inside wall ofthe ventilator adjacent the top thereof these partitions diverting andopposing endwise movement of air, rain and dirt in the ventilator.

3. 'In a roof ventilator in accordance with claim 2, a screen extending0n the upper edge of said partition from each side edge of the centralroof panel to the adjacent side of the ventilator near the top, theinclination being about the same as that of the opposite side of thecentral panel, and a supporting bar extending lengthwise on top of thescreen and secured centrally thereto approximately at right angles tobrace the screen and to extend upwardly below the structure top toprovide a deflector for inward and downward flow of air, fumes and fluidinto the ventilator.

4. In a roof ventilator in accordance with claim 2, a second transversepartition at each side of the center in alignment with and below thesaid first transverse partition, at the top abutting the lower edge ofthe transverse partition and at the bottom resting upon said base, theinside lower surface of the outer edge abutting the outer side wall, andthe inner edge being substantially at right angles to the lower edge ofthe next adjacent longitudinal panel, the intermediate portion fittingwithin and abutting the outer edge of the next panel extending betweenthe end-s and below the lower end of the panel to which the said firsttransverse partition is attached.

5. In a roof ventilator, a hollow rectangular structure having side andend walls open at the top and a connected base at the bottom with acentral upwardly flanged opening to fit over a roof curb; a central roofpanel less in width than the opening having sides inclined downwardly, afirst panel spaced below and underlapping each of said sides andinclined downwardly in substantially parallel relation to the adjacentside of the central roof panel; a second panel also spaced below thelower edge of the first panel in substantially parallel relation theretoand the lower edge being outwardly beyond the said flanged opening;means forming a discharge opening at the lower edge of each side wall;and transverse partition at each side of the structure fitting betweenthe side walls and the ends of the said panels; one partition sectionextending against the side edge of the roof panel and resting upon saidfirst panel and extending to the upper portion of the side wall; andanother partition section extending from the base to the first sectionagainst the side wall and fitting within the space between the side walland the end of the second panel.

6. In a roof ventilator, a transverse partition comprising two sectionsat each side of the central roof panel 5 6 in accordance with claim 5,in combination with a tri- 2,784,660 3/1957 Johnson 98-42 angulartransverse section seated on and secured to the 3,107,598 10/ 196 3 Rudy98-42 said second panel and abutting the upper portion of the FOREIGNPATENTS second partition section, and in alignment with the first andsecond transverse partition sections. 722,349 1/1955 Great Britain,

5 810,250 3/1956 Great Britain.

References Cited 924,132 4/1963 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATENTSROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 2,404,961 7/1946 Hoch 98-42 2 41095011 194 Knutson 9 42 10 W. E. WAYNER, ASSI SHZIZZ Examiner.

1. IN A ROOF VENTILATOR, A RECTANGULAR HOLLOW STRUCTURE HAVING SIDEWALLS AND ENDS, OPEN AT THE TOP AND A FLAT BASE AT THE BOTTOM HAVING ACENTRAL UPWARDLY FLANGED OPENING TO FIT OVER A ROOF CURB; A CENTRAL ROOFPANEL EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE SAID BOTTOM OPENING WITHTHE OPPOSITE SIDES INCLINED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE CENTER; BUT THE SAIDROOF PANEL BEING LESS IN LATERAL EXTENT THAN THE OPENING, ADJACENTPANELS BELOW EACH LOWER EDGE OF THE CENTRAL ROOF PANEL, EACH PANELINCLINED AT ABOUT THE SAME INCLINATION AS THAT OF THE CENTRAL ROOF PANELABOVE IT; ANGLE BAR SUPPORTING FLIGHTS FOR SAID ROOF PANEL AND INCLINEDPANELS ON EACH SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER SECURED TO THE END WALLSIN APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL RELATIONS WITH EACH OTHER TO SUPPORT THE SAIDCENTRAL ROOF PANEL AND THE ADJACENT PANELS BELOW IT IN SEPARATE ANDUNDERLAPPING POSITION, SAID ADJACENT PANELS HAVING AN UPPER EDGE FLANGETURNED REVERSELY AND UNDERLYING THE EDGE OF THE PANEL ABOVE, AND A LOWEREDGE TURNED DOWNWARDLY TO FORM A DRIP FLANGE, AND THE DRIP EDGE OF THELOWEST FLANGE OVERLYING AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE ADJACENT EDGEOF THE UPWARDLY FLANGED OPENING TO FIT OVER THE ROOF CURB; AND LIQUIDDISCHARGE MEANS AT THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS.